FedEx Cup champion Bill Haas beat major winners Phil Mickelson and Keegan Bradley in a sudden-death playoff to win the US PGA Tour’s Nortern Trust Open at Riviera Country Club on Sunday.
Haas drained a 43-foot birdie putt on the second playoff hole to see off his American countrymen and take home the $US1.2 million ($A1.1 million) winner’s cheque.
Earlier, he shot a two-under 69 on the final day to finish at seven-under.
After notching up three birdies in his opening 10 holes, he was sitting pretty but back-to-back bogeys on the 12th and 13th brought him screeching back to the pack.
A birdie on the second last hole ensured Haas posted the clubhouse lead, leaving a nervous wait as Mickelson and Bradley played the 18th just one back.
In true Hollywood fashion, Mickelson sank a 27-foot birdie from the fringe and Bradley slid his 13-foot birdie effort into the hole to set up a three-way extra holes battle.
All three players parred the first extra hole – the 18th – before Haas claimed victory at the next hole – the 10th – leaving Mickelson and Bradley tied second.
Australian Jarrod Lyle (70), an alternate into the field, grabbed the highest finish of his PGA Tour career by finishing two back in a tie for fourth with Sergio Garcia (64), Jimmy Walker (69) and Dustin Johnson (71).
Lyle shot out of the gates in the final round with back-to-back birdies. After flying over the par-five first in two, he overplayed his chip shot but still rolled in a 10-foot putt for the birdie.
He maintained his momentum with a clever 16-foot effort for birdie on the second and thoughts of a maiden win began to be realistic. But a run of six straight pars followed before a bogey on the ninth stalled his challenge.
It looked like the wheels might come off when his tee shot on the 10th hooked well left but, not to be deterred, the Victorian pitched the ball to two feet and nailed the birdie to be back amongst it.
But he couldn’t manufacture any more birdies on the run home to put pressure on the leaders and a bogey on the 16th ended his charge.
“It’s not a win but it’s awesome,” Lyle said. “It’s so important for me to get off to a good start to the year and this really helps me going forward.”
Defending champion Aaron Baddeley was the next best Australian in a tie for 11th at three-under after shooting a 71.
Baddeley started the final round just two off the lead but couldn’t make a serious run at a title defence. A double bogey six on the 13th hole killed off his hopes.
Marc Leishman (73) and Adam Scott (69) finished tied 17th at one under par while John Senden was tied 44th at four over.
Jason Day struggled on the tough layout finishing at nine over par and tied 62nd.
